Dr Oliver J Ford
Dr Oliver J Ford

Tutoring

Overview

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I have worked as a full-time tutor since late 2016, and on and off since 2010. What started out as a convenient way to make ends meet while figuring out “what I wanted to do” has become a nurturing, sustaining and fulfilling part of my career. Whilst writing up my PhD I tutored undergraduates at Oxford, and this only reinforced my enthusiasm for teaching students as individuals or small groups.

Getting to help students of all ages achieve their goals and enjoy their studies more is a wonderful feeling. Through tutoring, I also find that my own learning and writing are enriched, as I am constantly introduced to new ways of thinking about history, literature and the world.

Alongside my freelance tutoring work, I have worked for Oxford Summer Courses - an international summer school who work in Oxford, Cambridge and London - delivering unique lessons in History.

I work in Woodstock, Oxford and the surrounding area, and online. I also have experience of delivering intensive exam prep sessions (including residential placements) and group courses. For intensive sessions I can work in London.

Subjects

The main subjects I tutor in are:

  • History: up to and including Masters level

  • English Literature: up to and including A level

  • English Language: up to GCSE level and as a foreign language

  • 11+/Pre-Test entrance exams to London schools

Schools I have helped students gain a place at include:

  • St Paul’s

  • Westminster

  • City of London Boys

  • Highgate

  • UCS

For specific information regarding my experience with different exam boards and schools, feel free to send me a message and I’ll try to get back to you as soon as possible.

Furthermore, I offer tuition in general humanities research skills and can tutor in other humanities subjects such as Classics and Art History. Again, get in touch for further particulars about my experience.

I also have extensive experience preparing students for Oxbridge entrance, having worked within the History Faculty and St Edmund College on admissions during my time as a doctoral student. I can offer personal statement advice, prepare applicants for the History Aptitude Test (HAT) and perform mock interviews.

Pricing

Please get in touch with me via the form at the bottom of this page to arrange a trial lesson.

My typical rates are listed below, but can vary depending on how much extra preparation is needed or how specialised the teaching is.

  • In person - £60 per hour

  • Online - £55 per hour

Academic qualifications

I attended Leeds Grammar School (now the Grammar School at Leeds) until 2007, gaining A levels in Literature, History and Philosophy. I then went on to Oxford where, aside from a few years away from academia, I spent nearly ten years in study, obtaining my doctorate in 2017 for a thesis on 17th-century Spanish history.

Education

D.Phil. in History
St Cross College, University of Oxford (funded by an AHRC scholarship)
2013 to 2017

M.St. in Modern British & European History
New College, University of Oxford
2012 to 2013

B.A. (Hons) in Ancient & Modern History
New College, University of Oxford
2007 to 2010

Testimonials

Please get in touch if you would like me to provide full references for my teaching experience. I also have a DBS check which I can produce on request.

School entrance (7+ to 11+)

“Oliver has tutored both our sons over the years. Wilfred (now aged 11) at 8+ was accepted at Westminster Under School and Sussex House, and at 11+ was accepted at Westminster, Eton and Winchester. Cedric (now aged 9) at 7+ was accepted at Westminster Under School. Oliver is a truly outstanding tutor across all disciplines, has a great sense of humour and is very easy for parents and children to work with. We look forward to continuing to work with him in the years to come.”
— Winston, parent
“Olly Ford is hands down the best tutor we have had. He was superb in preparing all three of our boys for their successful tests in ISEB 11+, 8+ and the private school-specific exams. Their success in getting into Eton, St Paul’s Juniors and Sussex House were very much aided by Olly’s attention to their specific and different characters and learning needs. Olly is warm hearted and fiercely intelligent. He crafted lessons to captivate their interests and made it a pleasure for the boys. We cannot recommend him more highly.
”
— John, parent
“Oliver is an amazing teacher, and makes English so much more enjoyable. Instead of dull and tedious worksheets, he makes English come to life, reminiscing about the Romans or studying the Stuarts. In my opinion, Oliver is a fantastic teacher and I would definitely recommend him.
”
— Casper, student who received offers from St Paul's, City of London, Highgate, UCS, Merchant Taylor's and Latymer

GCSE and A Level

“At the beginning of year 10, I was struggling with both English Literature and Language, scoring 5s and 6s. Oliver’s sessions were both very enjoyable and equipped me with the confidence and skills I needed! At the end of Year 11, I managed to achieve 9s in both English subjects.”
— Sophia, GCSE student
“Oliver’s wisdom and patience have been absolutely invaluable. He totally calmed my daughter down and taught her how to prepare and revise. The net result was a totally different approach to her exams - she didn’t panic and felt in control.”
— Joanna, parent of an A-Level student who achieved an A at History and is now studying at Leeds University
“A highly capable, calm, and knowledgeable tutor. Fun and focused, with a great ability to share his passion while imparting genuine exam skills.”
— Monica, parent of a GCSE student who achieved a 9 in History

University and Other

“Oliver worked with me for over five years on undergraduate coursework and exam essays for history. With his help, I was able to achieve a First at university and his passion for the subject made the ‘dry’ theoretical aspects of my degree more enjoyable. Oliver is hard-working, patient, adaptable to different learning styles and is genuinely interested in his students. He is extremely knowledgeable about history and has even helped me with other subjects including philosophy and political theory. I am grateful to have had him as a tutor.”
— Anna, undergraduate student who received a First in History from the University of Edinburgh
“I wanted help on how to get the best out of the latest technology to organise my research materials for a book. Oliver was extremely creative in his solutions and gave a lot of thought as to how to come up with the best solutions. This was combined with a great interest in the subject plus the benefit of the combination of very considerable background knowledge and a very practical approach to the issues. The result was that I was soon better educated.”
— David, adult learner, respected solicitor and published author
 

Contact Me

Please get in touch using this form to enquire about my tutoring availability. Give as much detail as possible - age group, school, subject, exam board, current attainment, targets and availability (be specific and give more than one option where possible). This will make it much easier for me to give you a proper reply. Thanks!

 

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